Court Reporting Explained

The court reporting profession is receiving national recognition as a competitive and rewarding career opportunity. For those just learning about the field, take a look at some of its notable perks:

How Court Reporting Is Done

The most common method of court reporting, stenography, uses a stenotype machine – a word processor with a modified, 22-button keyboard. Spelling words phonetically, a trained stenographer can record more than 200 words per minute.

1 Security: 5,500 new job openings in 5 years

Court reporting students will hold more than just a piece of paper following graduation – they’ll also hold a job. At a time when unemployment rates continue to plague much of the country, this field is projecting a national surge in opportunity.

According to research conducted by Ducker Worldwide, more than 5,500 new court reporting jobs are anticipated across the U.S. by 2018. The industry specializes in shorthand and long-standing careers.

2 Earnings: Average starting salary of $45k

Court reporters capture conversations and convert them into written form. All this listening pays off. With an average starting salary of $45,000, this career has risen to the surface as a standout option for those interested in meaningful work with healthy compensation.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the growth rate for court reporting salaries is expected to increase by 14% through the year 2020. This is one career where talk is translating into tangible long-term earnings.

3 Challenge: Character-building career

Court reporting provides endless opportunities for those who master the art of typing characters precisely. But more than that, it’s a profession that rewards hard-working individuals focused on transcribing with speed, accuracy and ethics.

From courtroom trials to legal depositions, court reporters have a front row seat for our nation’s most confidential and meaningful conversations. As the official keeper of records, this profession demands the “type” whose character counts.

4 Flexibility: Set your own work schedule

In the world of court reporting, one size doesn’t fit all. Career paths are versatile and practitioners have options, providing structure for those who need it and flexibility to those who don’t.

Prefer a more traditional track? Make yourself official with an eight to five position. Want the freedom to dictate your weekly work schedule? Embrace the flexibility of a freelancer. The profession provides a path for every preference.

5 Reward: Lend a helping hand for closed captioning

With 2 hands, 24 keys and 225+ words per minute, your impact as a court reporter is limitless. Captioners represent an elite group of practitioners who put their fingers to the ultimate test with realtime, publicly broadcast transcriptions.

From Presidential speeches to high-profile courtroom trials, the ability to caption and provide communication access to those with hearing loss is resounding.